I remember the days when SAA pilots would fly low over the Falls after take-off from VFA, in a Boeing 737 full of passengers!

One time the captain announced before departure that due to heavy thunderstorms over the Falls, he could regrettably not do a fly-past that morning. However, shortly after take-off he informed us that he had found a gap in the clouds, and would we all please remain seated with out seatbelts fastened, he would make sure that pax on both side would get a good view.

Sure enough, down we went, with tropical thunderstorms on all sides, and flew a figure eight right over the falls, low and slow, with lightning flashing all around us, and sheets of rain as a backdrop.

Absolutely spectacular, and most pax forgot everything about their seatbelts and darted from side to side across the aisle.

It was great fun, and I'm sure the pilots enjoyed it at least as much as we did.

Not likely to happen these days. If nothing else, the captain would probably get fired for wasting fuel.

Ah . . . those Good Old Days!

Johan